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Aly said the gunman, who Prime Minister Scott Morrison described as a "extremist right-wring terrorist", had deliberately picked that moment, knowing his victims would be helpless.

"This was slaughter by appointment," Aly said.

The New Zealand national flag is flown at half-mast on parliament in Wellington. Photo / Getty

"That's what made it scary, because he and other Muslims would not stop going to mosques to worship.

"It feels like fish in a barrel," he said.

Aly spoke about reading the gunman's manifesto, which was shared online before his attacks. He then appeared to read excerpts from it, attacking Islam as a religion of violence and saying that those who are Muslim should expect violence against them.

"How do those words sound when I tell you they weren't part of the manifesto? They were published [on Friday], after the attacks, on an Australian parliament letterhead," he said.

The remarks were those of Senator Fraser Anning, released in the wake of the attack, which have been roundly condemned.

Senator Anning has refused to apologise and even doubled down on the sentiments, which essentially blamed Muslim people for the attacks.

"While I appreciate the words our leaders have said, and in particular Scott Morrison's comments and preparedness to call this terrorism … I have something to ask," Aly continued.

"Don't change your tune now because the terrorism seems to be coming from a white supremacist. If you've been talking about being tough on terrorism for years, and [on] the communities who allegedly support it, show us how tough you are now.

"Now, now we come together. Now we understand this is not a game. Terrorism doesn't choose its victims selectively. We are one community.

"Everything we say to try to tear people apart, demonise particular groups, set them against each other. that all has consequences, even if we're not the ones with our fingers on the trigger."